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I rush to the window and look to make sure she is okay.
“She’s gone.”
“But Dylan…”
“I know, Mae. This is so her.”
“He’s going to be so crushed.”
“Unfortunately, this is his mother’s typical pattern. She makes promises and then falls through on keeping them.”
“How could you do that to your own child?” I ponder how I could possibly hurt Mina in such a way.
“I have no idea. I feel devastated when I even have to say no to a video game or new pair of shoes because money is tight.”
“So, we should whip up some breakfast for everyone else to wake up to and get this off our minds for a while,” Coral suggests.
As we work, Coral is giving me the side-eye and I finally “stop the presses” and ask her what’s on her mind. “Mae,” she begins. “This is absolutely none of my business but I really want you to know something.” As I prod, she tells me that Dean is “filthy rich,” and for me to have no sense of guilt in him losing this property for the development project. I knew he must be relatively wealthy as the primary owner of the company, but filthy rich? I’m going to have to process this info.
After a bit of silence, she changes subjects. “I’m sorry, Mae, I still can’t believe you once thought that Dean and I were a couple,” she eventually jokes.
“Well, I didn’t know. I hardly knew him at the time. What would you think if some random woman showed up at your new neighbor’s house?”
“I guess. But as you can see, I’m hardly his type.”
“What do you mean?”
“He likes the pretty girls—like you and Anna.”
“Coral! You are beautiful. Don’t be ridiculous.”
“Well, thank you. But I don’t put much effort into my clothes, makeup, hair, and stuff like that.”
I stop what I’m doing and make sure she’s looking at me. I turn and put my hands on my hips. “Do you ever stop to think that’s maybe because your natural beauty is already enough Coral?”
I walk her to the door to look in the mirror. “I rest my case, judge,” trips off my lawyerly voice quite easily. She smiles, so I think she got my compliments.
Shortly after, Dylan wakes up and asks where his mom is.
“Oh, buddy,” Coral puts her hand on his shoulder.
“…She left, didn’t she?”
“Yes.”
“Unbelievable,” is all he says. He rushes out the door. It’s still raining, but I see him wiping at his face with his sleeve, and I guess he doesn’t want anyone—especially Mina—to see him crying.
“What’s going on?” Dean asks, clearly half-asleep.
“Anna left.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me.”
“I’m so sorry,” I say.
“How did Dyl take it?”
“He’s been outside wiping away tears if that tells you anything.”
